HNC & HND - Higher Education Qualifications
Higher National Certificates (HNCs) and Higher National Diplomas (HNDs) are a great stepping stone towards university or future employment.
What is an HNC/HND?
Higher National Certificate and Higher National Diploma qualifications have been developed to give you the best opportunity to gain practical and theoretical skills in your chosen field. Highly respected by employers, they provide a route to university to explore your future career while giving you the academic knowledge behind the skills to succeed and thrive.
Browse our HNC and HND courses
Explore your optionsThe Difference between HNC AND HND
HNC
A Higher National Certificate gives you an SCQF level 7 qualification and the opportunity to enter to first year of university on some degree programmes.
You can also progress further onto an HND or employment.
HND
A Higher National Diploma is often the next step for those who already have an HNC. An HND gives you an SCQF level 8 qualification and the opportunity to enter to second year of university on some degree programmes.
With a HND, you can progress onto employment with a qualification that will be recognised by employers.
Your pathway to university
Gaining an HNC/HND at Dumfries and Galloway College provides you with a great pathway to university. Successful students can continue education by joining the first or second year in your chosen degree programme.
While every university in Scotland accepts HNC and HND, at Dumfries and Galloway College we have progression links to certain courses at the University of Glasgow and University of the West of Scotland. This allows an easy pathway to gain success in your career and potentially allows you to study whilst staying in your local region.
Take a look at our HNC and HND linked courses below
If you study these courses with us, your qualification can take you on into a degree programme at the University of Glasgow.
- Social Services HNC @ SCQF Level 7 - Dumfries
- Childhood Practice HNC @ SCQF Level 7 - Dumfries
- Childhood Practice HNC @ SCQF Level 7 - Stranraer
University of Glasgow has a campus in Dumfries allowing you to study and stay where you live. Take a look at their Dumfries campus.
If you study these courses with us, your qualification can take you on into a degree programme at the University of the West of Scotland
- Cyber Security HND @ SCQF Level 8 - Dumfries
- Business HND @ SCQF Level 8 - Dumfries
- Childhood Practice HNC @ SCQF Level 7 - Dumfries
- Childhood Practice HNC @ SCQF Level 7 - Stranraer
University of the West of Scotland has a campus in Dumfries allowing you to study and stay where you live. Take a look at their Dumfries campus.
Other HNC or HND courses you can study
- Business HNC @ SCQF Level 7 - Dumfries
- Business HND @ SCQF Level 8 - Dumfries
- Cyber Security HNC @ SCQF Level 7 - Dumfries
- Cyber Security HND @ SCQF Level 8 - Dumfries
- Art & Design HNC @ SCQF Level 7 - Dumfries
- Art & Design HNC @ SCQF Level 7 - Stranraer
- Art & Design HND @ SCQF Level 8 - Dumfries
- Photography HNC @ SCQF Level 7 - Dumfries
- Photography HND @ SCQF Level 8 - Dumfries
- Visual Communication (Graphic Design with Moving Image) HNC @SCQF Level 7 - Dumfries
- Visual Communication (Graphic Design with Moving Image) HND @SCQF Level 8 - Dumfries
- Childhood Practice HNC @ SCQF Level 7- Dumfries
- Childhood Practice HNC @ SCQF Level 7- Stranraer
- Childhood Practice HND @ SCQF Level 8 - Dumfries
- Social Services HNC @ SCQF Level 7 - Dumfries
- Electrical Engineering HNC @ SCQF Level 7 - Dumfries
- Electrical Engineering HND @ SCQF Level 8 - Dumfries
- Mechanical Engineering HNC @ SCQF Level 7 - Dumfries
- Beauty Therapy HNC @ SCQF Level 7 - Dumfries
- Fashion Make-Up HNC @ SCQF Level 7 - Dumfries
- Social Services HNC @ SCQF Level 7 - Dumfries
- Childhood Practice HNC @ SCQF Level 7 - Dumfries
- Childhood Practice HNC @ SCQF Level 7 - Stranraer
Value to Dumfries and Galloway
HNC and HND qualifications are highly valuable to employers in the Dumfries and Galloway region, enabling students to develop skills to embark on a fulfilling and prosperous career. As a student, you can positively impact our community while helping to boost your abilities with these practical-based learning options that will set you up to get one step ahead.